Overtime Period Provides Necessary Spark

After starting the season with two road games, New Westminster was back at Queen's Park for their home opener against the Port Coquitlam Saints on Thursday night. The Salmonbellies looking to draw even on the season series with the Saints, who beat New West just six days ago at their home opener.

No doubt in my mind this game was going to be a treat to watch, considering the Salmonbellies fire power and Poco's impressive improvement so far this year.

The first would start with New West getting ahead early, Max Gallant and Drew Duncan scoring back to back to get the home team into it. But after a couple of 'Bellies penalties Trevor Evans and Scott Jones would score on the power play to even up the score, and Matt Hardman converted a lead pass from Jr. B Saint Josh Bailey to put PoCo up. 

The lead wouldn't last for long after Kyle Belton threw in a power play goal while they were announcing the cross checking penalty, and Alex Turner stripped Andrew Murphy at center for a beautiful unassisted goal to end the period 4-3 for New West.

In the four games I've seen so far this season the second period has been the demise for one, or both of the teams on the floor. In this game the second period was an absolute explosion from both squads. There were thirteen goals altogether, five with the man advantage, and a combination of 43 shots. Poco's seven goals in the last eight minutes of the period was a barrage of action that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

After a quick breather the third frame was underway with Poco up by two. A couple of quick goals from Eric Lewthwaite and Kyle Belton tied up the game within the first couple of minutes, and after facing 46 shots Jeff Lissmore went to the bench and Tyson Cornfield held the net for PoCo.

The Salmonbellies took advantage of the new keeper and Drew Duncan threw in his third of the night on the power play, as well as Lewthwaite and Gallant to make the game interesting with time winding down. 

Trevor Evans and Darcy Cummings brought Poco right back in it, and the Saints hero of the third was Jordan Flaman, scoring with just 1:18 left to tie the game at fourteen a piece.

To overtime we went; ten full minutes of nail biting lacrosse.

I expected both teams to look a lot more tired in the extra frame but there was an even pace with the rest of the game. Just a couple of minutes in Darcy Cummings had the go ahead goal for Poco and the eventual game winner. Shortly after, Terry Crondahl threw in another past Ray Hodgkinson to end the overtime period 16-14 for the visiting Saints.

For the second night in a row I watched a great game with over one hundred shots. Everyone knows goaltending can make or break a game, but with a high number of shots comes a tougher mental game and more pressure on the already heavy shoulders of a teams goalie.

New West was so tight on the forecheck and made sure when they had the man advantage they capitalized quickly. Of their five power play goals, all were scored in the first 45 seconds of the penalty. Poco looked impressive with the extra man as well, their quick passes were executed with good precision but sometimes were too fast to handle.

It was a great night on the scoreboard for a lot of players. For the Saints- Darcy Cummings with five goals, Andrew Murphy with a goal and three assists, and Matt Hardman with two goals and two assists. 

And for the 'Bellies, get used to hearing the names Belton, Gallant, Turner, and Lewthwaite most likely in the same breath; they all mesh so well on the floor together. Turner had two goals and four assists, Gallant with three and three, Belton ending the night with two and two, and Lewthwaite with a hat trick and a couple of helpers.

To see these teams in action this week, the Saints are in Nanaimo on Sunday May 4th, and New West hosts South Fraser on Tuesday May 6th.